World Environment Day 2018: Plastic ban in Tamil Nadu from next year

Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced a ban on manufacture, sales, storage and usage of disposable plastic across State with effective from January 1, 2019.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy made the announcement in the state legislative assembly on the occasion of the World Environment Day.

However, a few plastic materials used for packing milk, curd, oil and medicine have been exempted. The announcement was made under Rule 110 of the assembly.

Late chief minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier constituted an expert panel on the issue that had suggested banning plastic products, including bags, plates and cups, and recommended that traditional items such as plantain leaves and plates made of palm leaves be used, Palanisamy said.

The chief minister said non-biodegradable plastic products, mainly polythene covers affect the environment, impeding water flow. Its burning also causes problems, he said, adding that plastic products contributed to various forms of pollution-- air, land and water.

"Considering the damage caused by plastic, and to ensure this is not left behind for future generations, the Amma government has decided to ban non-biodegradable plastic covers, plates, cups, water packets, straws and bags," he said.

The ban is brought under an environment protection act of 1986 and it would come into effect from January 1, 2019, so as to allow people to change over to using paper bags and other products made out of paper as substitutes to the plastic items facing ban, he said.

Palanisamy recalled that people's participation in the past for a rainwater harvesting scheme introduced by Jayalalithaa had resulted in success, as it had led to better groundwater resources.

"Similarly, with the cooperation and contribution of all, let us gift a plastic-free Tamil Nadu for the future generations of the state," he added.

World enviornment Day celebrated on June 5 every year is a platform for encouraging awareness and propagating the need for protecting the environment. And this year's theme for the World Environment Day 2018, "Beat Plastic Pollution".